Oxidizing apparatus.



No. 708,874. Patented Sept. 9, |902.

A. N. DUBOIS. l

OXIDIZING APPARATUS.

(Application led Aug. 14, 1901.)

(No Model.)

me Dams PETERS co.. moro-urna.. wnsmmmnfoI c.

UNITED STATES.v

PATENT FFICE.

ALEXANDER N.` DBOIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

OXIDIZING` APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,874, datedSeptember 9, 1902.

Application led August 14, 1901. Serial No. 72,057. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALEXANDER N. DUBOIS, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Oxidizing Apparatus for Hanks of Yarn, Piece Fabric, Stockings, andGarments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to the method or process ofanilin-black dyeing commonly known as the dry7 process-that is to say,the oxidation which forms an essential step in the process is effectedby exposure to the air instead of by immersion in an oxidizing bath.

Heretofore in using the dry process the article to be dyed has beensaturated with the dye liquor, and after the removal of the surplus bythe use of a whizzer or by wringing it has been customary to hang themup in aV closed room whose temperature was maintained at the properpoint until the appearance of a peculiar green color indicated that theoxidation had reached the proper stage, after which the goods weresubjected to the final treatment. the process in this manner greatdifficulty is experienced in obtain ing a uniform oxidation of thegoods, owing to the fact that no matter how carefully the room may beconstructed the wind-pressure from the outside always produces anirregular diffusion of the air and moisture within and occasions unequalpressures and temperatures in different parts of the room. When the windis blowing strongly from one quarter-as, for instance, northit is commonexperience to ind the goods on the north side of the room completelyoxidized before those upon the south side are anywhere near completion.If these oxidized or ripened goods are allowed to remain until theothers are ready for removal, they become tender, frequently to such anextent as to be unsalable. On the other hand, if the goods whoseoxidation is not complete are removed when the rst are ready they failto attain the proper color when they are subjected to the finaltreatment or finishing process. It is not practicable to remove thegoods piecemeal In the practical conduct of Without a great increase ofexpense and, in fact, without'very considerable risk to the operatives,owing to the fact that the stay in a room lilled with oxidizing goodsfor a period long enough to select those which are ready for removalexposes the workmen to the action of gases which are exceedingly-prejudicial to health. Myinvention is directed toward the remedy ofthis difficulty, and it consists in a method of'oxidizing the goodsuniformly and expeditiously by causing their rotation throughout thedierent points of the compass in a suitable chamber or room, the objectand effect being that each piece of goods, takin g the oxidizing processas a whole, is exposed to substantially similar atmospheric conditionswith the rest.

I will nowproceed to describe aconvenient apparatus for my improvedmethod.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents in vertical centralsection a room and apparat-us adapted for the conduct thereof.v Fig. 2is a detail View showing one form of support upon which the goods are'held. Fig. 3 is a detail view of another form of support and having asomewhat dierent action.

I construct` a room or chamber A, preferably circular in form, having adoor Al and a ceiling A2. The ceiling may be provided -withVentilating-apertures a, closed by sliding doors a. A steam-heating coilD is arranged above the floor A', and above this in turn is a. slattedfloor C, which permits the ascent of the heated air. In the center ofthe room is a vertical shaft B, supported in suitable journals, andhaving at one enda bevelgear B', which is actuated by a similar gear B2upon the shaft B3 in such a manner as to effect a very slow rotarymovement of the shaft B. Radial arms E E', duc., extend outward from theshaft B near the ceiling of the room, and at their outer ends areconnected with vertical supports F F', &c. at their lowerI ends rollersf f', dac., respectively, which run Vupon a circular track c, mountedupon the iioor. The several upright supports F F/,` duc., are connectedby an annular bandv or brace H, which is'provided at intervals withrectangular notches upon its upper side. Near the shaft B a similar Saidsupports have f IOO the bars.

annular band or brace I is mounted upon supports K and provided withrectangular notches J upon its upper side registering in number andcircumferential position with the notches upon the band I1. If desired,the several supports F F may be connected by means of cross stays orbraces to insure steadiness. Rectangular poles G (shown in detail inFig. 2) lit in the notches of the bands H and I, so as to be properlysupported for rotation, but freely removable. When it is intended to usethe apparatus for the oxidizing of dyed stockings or garments, thesepoles are provided with wheels having spurs g g thereon, upon which hangthe stocking or garment frames. These poles do not revolve axially `orvertically, but simply move horizontally at all points of the compass.

The method of operation in using this apparatus for treatment ofstockings or garments is as follows: The stockings or garments are iirststeeped in the dye liquor, then put through the whizzer or wrung,stretched upon frames, and suspended upon the poles Gr until the room isproperly lled. The entire frame is then caused to rotate slowly andcontinuously, so that the stockings or garments are in successioncarried around the room to all parts of the compass and receive auniform exposure, no matter what may be the direction of the wind andirregularities of the temperature and atmospheric conditions within theroom itself.

XVhen it is intended to apply the method to the oxidation of dyeinghanks of yarn or lengths of cloth, I prefer to substitute for theremovable poles G the devices shown in Fig. 3. The support for the hanksof yarn or pieces of material T consists of a flat-sided bar P,preferably of triangular cross-section, as shown, having suitablejournals Q Q' at its respective ends, which iit into sockets in theannular bands H and I', respectively, so that each bar can turn upon itslongitudinal axis. Upon the outer end of the bar are mounted spur-wheelsq, and within the range of movement of the teeth on the spur-wheels asthe frame rotates are fixed studs or pins R, placed at intervals aroundthe wall of the room, so that as the whole frame carrying the series ofbars P rotates the teeth of the spur-wheels q will successively strikeagainst the fixed studs R and in passing by will cause the bars torotate upon their longitudinal axis for a short distance. In theinstance shown the distance would of course be onethird of a circle.This movement of the bars will cause thehanks of yarn or pieces of othermaterial suspended thereon to be shifted in the direction of theirlength, so as to prevent the under surface from remaining in contact toolong at any one point with the surface of Experience has shown thatitisnecessary to shift the banks of yarn or pieces of goods in this mannerin order to prevent what is known as the beaming7 or unequal oxidationof surface due to its protection by Contact with the surface of the bar.

I am aware that the use of rotating frames for clothes-driers, duc., isnot new, and I do not claim the same, nor do I claim a rotating processfor other purposes `than the oxidation of dyed goods nor even for thatpurpose, except when the rotationis carried on Withsubstantial referenceto the points of the compass.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Au oxidizing apparatus comprising a suitable chamber provided with aceiling, adjustable Ventilating means in the ceiling, heating meanslocated above the iioor of the chamber, a rotatable rack containedWithin the chamber, a circular track on which the rack is supported andupon which it rotates and independently-removable poles carried by therack, the poles having articles to be dried attached thereto.

2. An oxidizing apparatus comprising a suitable inclosed chamber,heating means stationarily located therein, horizontally-rd tating meanscontained Within the chamber, a plurality of series of supports carriedby the rotary means one of the series of supports provided with means tointermittently actuate them in a direction at right angles to the planeof movement of the horizontallyrotating means.

3. A drying apparatus comprising a suitably-inclosed chamber, heatingmeans in the chamber, a rotating rack contained within the chamber, therack provided. with a plurality of independently-rotatable radial armsjournaled therein, spurs secured to and rotating with the radial arms,stationary pins placed at intervals Within the chamber, the spursadapted to contact with the pins to intermittently rotate the radialarms.

e. A drying apparatus comprising an inclosed chamber, a rotary racktherein, a plurality of radialarms carried by the rack and rotatingtherewith, certain of the radial arms independently rotatable in adirection at right angles to the direction of rotation of the rack, theindependently-rotatable arms being flat-sided in form, spurs carried bythe last-mentioned arms and rotating therewith, studs mounted in thepath of the spurs, the spurs adapted to intermittently contact with thestuds to effect a partial rotation of the independently-rotatable armsduring the rotation of the rack.

5. An oxidizing apparatus comprising an inclosed chamber, a rotatablerack therein, rotating means therefor, the rack provided with a seriesof vertical supports, rollers on the supports, a track upon which therollers bear, annular notched bands connecting the vertical supports ofthe rack, annular notched braces surrounding and secured to the rotat-IOO IIO

lng means, independentlyremovable poles `name* to this specication inthe presence of supported in the notches in the bands and twosubscribing Witnesses.A i braces and means for intermittently aetuatging certain of the poles in a rotatory direc- ALEXANDER N DUB 01S 5 tionat right angles to that in which the rack Witnesses: l

moves. C. C. RITTER,

In testimony whereof I have signed my G. H. DUBOIS.l

